Tracer composition



Patented Apr. 9, 1929, I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STERNER ST. 1. MEEK, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRACER COMPOSITION.

No Drawing. Application filed May 21, 1924. Serial No. 714,919.

' (GRANTED UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1883, AS AMENDED APRIL 30, 1928;370 0. G. 757.)

The invention described herein may be As an inert substance: 50manufactured and used by or for the Gov- Parts. l-ernment forgovernmental purposes with- Strontium nitrate 5O out'the payment to meof any royalty there- Sodium nitrate 60 5 on. v .Magnesiunr 40 Thesubject of this invention is a combus- Calcium resinate 40 tiblecomposition or mixture burning with Yttrium oxide 1O greater'or lessrapidity, as maybe desired, Zirconium oxide 8 and possessing thedesirable quality of lul0 minosity, brilliance or visability in burning;The following are typical examples of the mixture being especiallyadapted for combustible mixtures of the elements: use as a tracermixture in projectiles, though also useful in many other organiza-Zirconium 60 to 90 parts tions, such as port fires, rockets, signalfires, Yttrium 40 to 10 art 15 and any burning composition in which theYttrium salts 60 to 90 parts.

above mentioned qualities are desirable. Zirconium 40 to 10 parts.

It has been found that the addition of certain rare earth elements tocombustible ma- While the above mixtures are typical, they terials willgreatly increase luminosity, brilare cited only by way of example andare in- 2 liance and visibility thereof when combustended in no way tolimit the proportions tion takes place. These same elements, or of thevarious ingredients to those set forth, 7 proper salts thereof, whenthemselves comas the proportions in which zirconium and bustible may beused either alone or in comyttrium will be used depend largely uponbination'with other elements for the purpose the other ingredients mixedtherewith and 25 above outlined. the use to which the mixture isintended to While any rare earth elements possessing be put. thecharacteristics, when heated, of giving What is claimed is: ofi anunusually large proportion of its 1. A tracer composition forprojectiles in energy in the form of light waves, are c'luding an oxygencontaining compound of 30 adapted to produce the above outlined deanalkali earth metal, salts of a rare earth sired results; the preferredelement for this 7. metal, a fuel and a binder.

purpose are zirconium and yttrium. 2. A tracer composition forprojectiles in- These elements may be d ith i cluding an oxygencontaining compound of the form of nitrate or other oxygen caran alkaliearth metal, a sulphocyanate of a 35 rier; in the form of a fuel, assulpho-cyarare earth metal, an oxidizing agent and a nate; or in theform of inert substances bindermerely for increasing the brilliance, asan 3. A tracer composition for projectiles inoxide or chloride. eludingas elements salts of yttrium and zir- The following tracer mixtures aretypical coniump 40 examples f difi t o i ti n of th 4. A tracercomposition for projectiles inelements: including magnesium 10 parts,barium per- As an oxygen carrier: oxide 10 parts, salts of yttrium andzirconium 20 parts, calcium resinate 5 parts and Magn s m 10 leadsulpho-cyanate 5 parts. 45 Yttrium nitrate 15 Zirconium nitrate 5STERNER ST. P, MEEK, Calcium resinate 5 Lead sulpho-cyanate ..i 5

Barium peroxide 10

